Holidays in Bangladesh

Eid Milad un-Nabi

The Birth Day of Prophet Muhammad celebrated as Milad-un-Nabi.Various mosques and Muslim organizations hold their own celebrations at various times and places.The main aim of the Milad-un-Nabi is to remember, observe, discuss and celebrate the advent of the birth and teachings of the holy Prophet Muhammad.

Shahid Dibash

(Language Martyrs' Day)

21 February of every year celebrated as the Shahid Dibash,to the remembrance of the martyrs' of Language Movement of 1952. Blood was shed on this day at the Central Shahid Minar (near Dhaka Medical College Hospital) area to establish Bangla as a state language of Pakistan. All subsequent movements including the struggle for independence owe their origin to the historic language movement. The Shahid Minar (martyrs' monument) is the symbol of the supreme sacrifice for the mother tongue.

Independence Day

26 March is the Independence Day of Bangladesh.This is the biggest festival in the Bangladesh,observed throughout the country. All major cities wear a festive look. It is a public holiday.On this day in 1971 was the beginning of a 9 month long war for liberation that resulted into the independence of Bangladesh. Every year this day is observed with due respect.

Bangla New Year's Day

(Poyela Boishakh)

Bengali New Year or Poyela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar, celebrated in Bangladesh.
Poila Boishakh connects all ethnic Bengalis irrespective of religious and regional differences.In Bangladesh, it is a national holiday celebrated around 14 April according to the official amended calendar designed by the Bangla Academy.Boishakhi fairs are arranged in many parts of the country. Various agricultural products, traditional handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold at these fairs.

May Day

In Bangladesh,this day is a public holiday. All industries and factories remain closed. Red flags have been hoisted at the offices of the political organisations.This day celebrated to establish the rights of workers.Worker organisations are hosting various programmes marking the day including processions, discussion sessions, cultural events and film exhibitions. Roads in the capital have been decorated with placards, banners and festoons.

Buddha Purnima

(Wesak)

Vesak is a celebration that commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death, and his passing into nirvana.The Bangladeshi Buddhist community gathered at temples throughout the country to mark Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival on the Buddhist calendar.Wesak falls on the full moon Uposatha day in Buddhist calendar.

Eid Ul Fitr

(Rojar Eid )

Eid ul-Fitr, often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fitr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.
Muslims are commanded by the Quran to complete their fast on the last day of Ramadan and then recite the Takbir all throughout the period of Eid.

Durga Puja

( Vijaya Dasami )

It is an annual Bengali festival that celebrates worship of Hindu goddess Durga. Durga Puja along with other Pujas are celebrated throughout Bangladesh by the Hindu community of the country.Thousands of Puja Mandaps are set up across the country, including hundreds in the capital city Dhaka. The last day of the festival or Bijoya Dashami is a national holiday in Bangladesh. Offices and educational institutions remain closed on the day.

Eid Ul Azha

(Korbani Eid)

Eid al-Adha is 3 days long and starts on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of the willingness of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son Ismael (AS) for Allah.Eid for the common people means meeting family members and friends, buying new clothes and preparing delicious food on the Eid day.

Muharram

(Ashura)

Muharram or the 'sacred month' is the first month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar. The tenth day of Muharram is called Ashura. Imam Husain (R) the grandson of the Holy Prophet (SM) was killed on this day at the hands of the troops of Yazid.

Bijoy Dibosh

(Victory Day )

Bangladesh celebrate Victory day (Bengali: Bijôy Dibôsh) as the national holiday on December 16. In the year 1971,Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indo-Bangladeshi army in Dhaka, ending the 9 month-long Bangladesh liberation war.Every year the Government, different organization and institutions take elaborate programmes to celebrate the day on a befitting manner. The national flag is hosted in all important offices, buildings, institutions and shops. All important places are tastefully decorated.

Christmas

( Bara Din)

In Bangladesh Christmas is often referred to as Bara Din, which means the “Big Day”. Churches are illuminated with lights. Christmas celebrated with love, joy and sharing. As the streets and homes start taking on the form of Christmas wonderlands, with trees, branches and lights adorning houses.Bara Din is a day of blessings. People gather, taking time to talk and to get to know each other again.